Rod, has over 55 years of experience in education, instruction, and community-based roles, including teaching in Newfoundland and Labrador, ESL instruction with CUSO in Nigeria, and work in Ontario as a driving instructor, batch processor, and security guard.

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Longstanding involvement with a range of community and advocacy organizations across Newfoundland and Labrador, West Africa, and Ontario, including the Herring Neck Improvement Committee, Twillingate–New World Island–Change Islands Development Association, Communications, Energy and Paper workers Union, United Steelworkers Union, Peel Region Health Coalition, Brampton–Caledon Health Coalition, Brampton Springdale Network, Steelworkers Organization of Active Retirees, ACORN, and Friends and Advocates  Peel where he has actively been involved for the past 8 years.